PS 3505 


.R87 


T5 


1919 




Copy 


1 



THOUGHTS 

by 

Mrs. E. W. Crosby 



FEB 



;*v 



4 



^ 



Digitized by the Internet Archive 
in 2011 with funding from 
The Library of Congress 



http://www.archive.org/details/thoughtsOOcros 



TO 
MY COMPANION 



Copyright 1919 

by 

Mrs. E. W. Crosby 



>C1A563443 

FEB 17 1920 



GOD'S POEMS 



O, thou Great Poet! 

Before thy Master Mind 

We bow in adoration 

Thy poems live! 

Creations wrought by thee 

Unfold great truths 

That oft have failed discernment. 

Yon setting sun 

Throws deep, rich shadows o'er 

Thy snow-capped peaks resplendent, 

Transforming them 

To burnished, rose-hued crests, 

Thy handiwork 

Revealing strength omnipotent! 

Yet, blossoming, frail, 

Beneath those tow'ring heights 

We find in deep seclusion 

Thy flowerlets 

All kissed by morning dew, 

Their fragile bloom 

Exhaling mild aroma sweet. 

O, thou kind Friend! 

With tenderness unveiled 

Through exquisite creation! 

Our purged souls, 

In true nobility, 

Give birth to praise 

Conceived while bowing at thy feet! 



OUR TOMORROW 



Sometimes I dream, Life's dreams come true, 

Of Tomorrow and all the things we'll do, 

For our Yesterdays will come again 

Without the burdens, without the pain; 

All sighs, all tears we will forget 

Tomorrow where there's no regret. 

As the rippling brooklet speeds along 

We hear it sing the old, old song 

Of how men come and how they go, 

Yet its sparkling waters forever flow. 

So will our Tomorrow surely be, 

As endless e'er as Eternity. 

We pass through this world, but not alone, 

A guiding hand is holding our own, 

And though friends meet as ships in the night, 

A fleeting glance, then out of sight, 

A wondrous ship on the Celestial Sea 

With great white wings to the breeze set free, 

Will carry us safe to a golden shore 

Where partings will cease forever more. 

So I sometimes sigh and sometimes smile 

As I think with joy of each golden while 

Of Tomorrow and all the things we'll do 

When we reach the realm where dreams come true. 



RESPONSE TO "OUR YESTERDAYS" BY A FRIEND 



HOME AND CHILDREN 



The tender bloom of t'lowerlets 
That oft the world in haste forgets, 
God fain would shield from trampling feet, 
Preserving purity complete. 

So He in all wise providence, 
E'er mindful of frail innocence, 
Plants in their midst a stately tree, 
Whose arms stretch forth protectingly. 

A ray of sunlight filters through 
The tree that points to Heaven's blue, 
And scatters o'er the mossy ground. 
Where flowerlets in joy abound. 

With fragrance sweet like incense borne, 
The dainty blossoms greet the morn; 
By cooling streams, in shaded dell, 
God's flowerlets are guarded well. 



CHARACTER 



O, what's in a name 
That merely wins Fame? 
Tis better to form as we go 
Strong character best, 
Standing Life's greatest test, 
For out of it greatness will grow. 

The good being done, 

As the great race is run, 

Will linger in mem'ries of all; 

While days are forgot, 

Real service is not, 

Though seeming as trivial and small. 

Keep ever in mind, 

Real greatness to find, 

Means doing our best every day, 

Not waiting in dreams 

For something that seems 

To be a more excellent way 



A FRIEND 



A Friend to love you dearly, 

A Friend to clasp your hand. 

Despite the seeming failures, 

A Friend to understand, 

Means more than heir to kingdoms, 

Means more than wealth or fame; 

You'll find that life's worth living 

With one true friend to name. 

Count not your life a failure, 

If when you reach the end 

Of Life's great Path, long trodden, 

You've proved yourself a Friend. 



LOVE 



We thank thee not, our Father, 
For wealth and flowery ease, 
For rainment, food and shelter, 
Tis not for one of these. 

We thank thee not, our Father, 
For sparing us the care 
That makes one stoop a little 
And oft is hard to bear. 

But we would thank thee, Father, 
For knowing how to love, 
For hearts that are forgiving, 
And tuned with that above. 

For what is life, our Father, 
With every worldly gift, 
If Love within is failing 
The tired world to lift? 



LIFE 



What is Life? O, solemn thought, 

That stirs through heart and mind; 

Can none save God explain it all? 
Can none an answer find? 

What is Life? Some say 'tis Joy, 
Tis all a glad sweet song; 

If sorrow comes — well, what of that ? 
The clouds will flee ere long. 

What is Life? To some it means 
Long days of toil and care; 

They weary of the heavy load 
That is so hard to bear. 

What is Life? 'Tis not a Farce, 
'Tis not all Peace, all Strife, 

'Tis just a preparation 

For a higher, better Life 

What is Life? A time for us 
Who love our God above, 

To give the weary comfort, 
To scatter seeds of Love. 

What is Life? A privilege, 
An Honor from God's hand; 

A time to reach the highest 
That is at our command. 

What is Life? a Training School 

For soldiers of the King; 
Though discipline be firm, severe. 

The end will victory bring. 



EASTER 



The blessed Easter time is here! 
It brings to us good will and cheer. 
Our hearts rebound with love and grace, 
Our souls reflect His shining face! 

The songs of birds are tune with Love, 
The flowers speak of Him above, 
The trees, the winds, the sunshine rare, 
Are shaping thankful words of prayer. 

Does not the Spring Christ's life confess, 
And don her glorious festal dress? 
Does not the earth resplendent shine, 
And prove the risen Lord divine? 

The glad world lays aside her cares, 
Forgets the pain, the sinful snares, 
And joins the Angel Chorus fair, 
Whose Hallelujahs fill the air! 

O, Christ, our Lord, we bow to thee, 
In greatest love and humility; 
Our hearts and lives are wholly thine, 
This wondrous day, this Easter time! 



SAN JOAQUIN 



111 the heart of sunny, golden California, 
Decked in garb of royal splendor, like a Queen, 
By the gleaming peaks of proud Sierra sheltered 
Is the verdant, fertile valley, San Joaquin. 

Nature, lavishing her wealth of dainty poppies, 
Sets aflame the sloping hills with radiant glow. 
While the waxen, lily bloom of golden orange 
Wafts its fragrance o'er the smiling vale below. 

Fleeting by are days of Spring and soon the glorious 
Summer months their ripened harvest will display. 
Blushing fruits and luscious grapes in tempting 

clusters, 
Gleaning flavor from the sun's enriching ray. 

Most prolific is this land of milk and honey 
Fairest vale of our rich, golden state, I ween, 
Hearts are thrilled beholding wondrous living beauty 
Of an Eden's realm, the Valley San Joaquin. 



YOSEMITE IN JUNE 

No verse, though like an oracle inspired, 

Revealing treasures of the mind attired 

In words that ring like silver bells in tune, 

Can picture the Yosemite in June! 

The soul of Nature, hearing urgent calls, 

Yosemite awakes! Her seething falls 

Are splashing, dashing, crashing on their way, 

The sunbeams playing tag with laughing spray. 

The base of Nature's garden, like a floor 

With carpet of green velvet spreading o'er, 

Is strewn with flowers of such dainty tints, 

Perchance the fairies left their tiny prints; 

The violets with peeping heads are seen, 

While blushing berries nestle in the green. 

The cle^ar and sparkling river of Merced 

Is peaceful now; for miles it's sped 

Along the mountain side with madd'ning pace, 

Inviting evil spirits to the race! 

At early morn, with eagerness we take 

The winding path that points to Mirror Lake; 

No ripple there to mar reflections won 

By shadows of the glorious, rising sun, 

Like mirror cased in jeweled frame it seems, 

Its crystal surface far surpassing dreams! 

Although in verdure woodland scenes abound, 

Stupendous granite walls and peaks are found. 

We climb the steep and narrow trail that leads 

To Glacier Point, where soul in rapture feeds! 

Gigantic in their height, with awe we scan 

The monument of stone, El Capitan, 

The great Half Dome with burnished, golden crest, 

While far beyond, the summit of Cloud's Rest. 

Cathedral Spires like giant pillars rise 

In solemn dignity to azure skies; 

Three Brothers, linking arms in sympathy, 

Are Nature's emblem of Fraternity, 

And stalwart like a guardian through the years, 

The Sentinel in majesty appears. 

The vista in its grandeur without end 

Has challenged greatest minds to comprehend! 

Supernal heights are crowned with glittering snow! 

Great statues, sculptured chasms all aglow! 

We're loath to leave so soon the wondrous gem, 

Yosemite, Sierra's diadem! 



THE ARMY OF THE RED CROSS 



Somewhere in France the cruel Huns are advancing! 
Prussians, whose vision of God has been lost. 
Crushing the world with tyranical power; 
Eager for conquest, not counting the cost! 

German Kultur has been weighed and found wanting, 
Broken are all sacred laws from above, 
Piercing afresh the great heart of our Savior, 
Trailing in dust the white banner of Love. 

Somewhere in France our dear lads are fighting, 
Fighting with courage, undaunted and true, 
Fighting for justice, repulsing the Vandals, 
Fighting for God, for the Red, White and Blue. 

Somewhere in France our dear lads are dying, 
Freely their splendid, clean manhood they give; 
Dying in honor to free all the nations, 
Dying, they cry, "Let Democracy Live." 

List to the tread of another great army! 
See! They are marching so strong and so brave; 
Sacrifice, service, endurance, their armor; 
Their's is a mission to comfort and save. 

Braving cold death at the front of the battle, 
Serving as mother, as sister, as friend, 
A halo their crown, the Red Cross their emblem, 
Angels of mercy, they'll stay till they end 

Feeding, protecting the hungry and needy, 
Healing humanity's suffering and loss, 
Serving all mankind with love and compassion; 
The world's great redeemer. America's Red Cross! 



RESPONSE TO COL. McREA'S 
"IN FLANDERS FIELDS" 



In Flanders Fields,, where poppies grow, 
We see the crosses row on row; 
They mark the place where brave lads fell, 
That peace on earth might always dwell. 

For old men's wars Youth paid the price, 
Climbed Calvary's Hill of Sacrifice; 
Was it in vain their blood was spilled 
In Flanders Fields? 

God calls! Life's war will not be won 
Till Love abides with every one. 
To you who gave your all, we cry, 
We'll keep the faith, though we may die 
Like you who fell where poppies grow, 
In Flanders Fields. 



THE DAWN OF PEACE 



Twas night! No gleam the dreary depths dispelling. 

No sound save endless moanings of the Sea; 

Great, maddening waves, e'er turning, tossing, 

twisting, 
Left prostrate on the sands — Humanity. 

Exultant, proud, the Prince of Darkness, mounted 
On dashing charger, gazed with rapt delight, 
While dripping from his hands — the blood of children, 
Whose cries aroused Humanity that night! 

Humanity, though stunned, arose to action, 
Turned God deaf ears to her heart-rending cry? 
Like burning incense, prayers to heaven ascending, 
Though circled by dark clouds, had touched the sky. 

From out the deep a ray of light came stealing! 
With bated breath the world percieved its glow; 
The arch destroyer's steed had fled in terror, 
A great Shakinah led against the foe. 

'Tis Dawn! Our God's in His celestial dwelling, 
Through Him may burning conflicts ever cease, 
Redeeming Life and Love's great task renewing — 
No King shall rule save Christ, the Prince of Peace. 



AUTUMN 



I see the soft leaves gently falling 

Like butterfly wings to the ground, 

They tell us that Summer is dying, 

And form for her rest a rich mound. 

I feel the cool breezes a stirring, 

A vision of Winter appears, 
When birds and the flowers are sleeping 

And Heaven bathes earth with her tears. 

For a moment my heart becomes saddened 
O'er changes that Autumn has wrought, 

But God through it all is still smiling, 

And whispers my fears are for nought. 

Though Springtime and Summer have vanished, 
Though clouds hide the sun's brightest ray, 

We must not give up in repining, 

The birds have not left us for aye. 

For Nature's great heart is still throbbing, 
She drinks of God's nectar above; 

Great Winter and Death are in seeming, 
She'll soon rise with fulness of love. 

O, how we'll rejoice in the Springtime, 
When the little brown robins return! 

Our souls shall expand like the rosebuds, 
The meaning of Life we shall learn. 



CHRISTMAS 



The Magi of the long ago, 

Who journeyed from afar, 
To find the King of Bethlehem, 

Were guided by a star. 
Abiding in the fields at night, 

The lowly shepherds near, 
Were sore afraid when shone the light, 

A voice said, "Do not fear!" 

And as the babe in swaddling clothes, 

Wrapped, in the manger lay, 
The angels and the multitude 

Of heaven did homage pay. 

Great treasures brought the learned men, 

Rare, costly gifts they were, 
Presenting to the manger babe 

Gold, frankincense and myrrh. 
The shepherds on the lonely hills 

Rich off'rings could not bring, 
But Love was gold, Praise incense sweet, 

Their best they gave the King. 

Time makes its change, the ages roll, 
The months and years go by, 

And we forget to watch 
Still shining in the sky. 

The nations strive in deadly war, 
The song once heard by men 

Of "Peace on Earth," though still it rings, 
Is drowned and lost to them. 

Two thousand years ago, when God 

The Flag of Truce unfurled, 
He gave it as a Christmas gift, 

'Twas meant for all the world. 
So let us hope and let us pray 

That peace will come once more, 
When men shall turn to watch the star, 

To follow and adore. 



THE NEW YEAR 



The Old Year has fled, 

The world looks ahead, 

Forgetting the things gone before; 

The bells pealing clear 

Ring in the New Year, 

Which silently opens the door. 

In shimmering white, 

With no stain to blight, 

The radiant Morn is attired; 

We bow at her feet 

Feeling how incomplete 

Our labors in days now expired. 

Old ways cast aside, 

Resolved to abide 

By the truest and highest ideal, 

We take up our work 

With no mind to shirk 

The impulse our hearts deeply feel. 

Each day that we live 

Should happiness give, 

To strengthen and comfort through life, 

The less fortunate one 

Who has wearily begun 

The New Year in turmoil and strife. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

■IIL 

018 603 940 3 1 



